This year's biggest title, not just in children's books but in all of publishing, undoubtedly will be Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with a laydown date of July 16 and a first printing in the millions. But Harry certainly isn't the only book creating buzz this spring. As evidenced by this calendar, some children's books are posting some very adult-sized first-printing numbers.
March 8
Magic Tree House #33: Carnival at Candlelight by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by Sal Murdocca (Random House, $11.95). 300,000 first printing.
March 15
Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins, $17.99). 500,000 first printing.
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ominous Omnibus by Lemony Snicket (HarperKidsEntertainment, $19.99). 300,000 first printing.
Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk by Angie Sage (HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99). 100,000 first printing.
March 29
Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers by Ray Romano with his brothers, Richard and Robert Romano, illus. by Gary Locke (S&S, $17.95). 150,000 first printing.
The PrincessDiaries, Vol. VI: Princess in Training by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins, $16.99). 250,000 first printing.
April 11
Maximum Ride by James Patterson (Little, Brown, $16.99). 400,000 first printing
April 1
Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle (Abrams/Amulet, $16.95). 75,000 first printing.
April 12
The Dragonology Handbook by Dr. Ernest Drake (Candlewick, $12.99). 125,000 first printing.
The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber (HarperTempest, $16.99). 100,000 first printing.
April 20
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer (Hyperion/Miramax, $16.95). 250,000 first printing.
April 21
Guys Write for Guys Read, edited by Jon Scieszka (Viking, $16.99; paper $10.99). 50,000 first printing.
April 27
SilverFin: A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson (Hyperion/Miramax, $16.95). 150,000 first printing.
May 1
Meet Wild Boars, by Meg Rosoff, illus. by Sophie Blackall (Holt, $15.95). 50,000 first printing.
Let George Do It! by George Foreman, story by Fran Manushkin, illus. by Whitney Martin (S&S, $15.95). 50,000 first printing.
May 4
47 by Walter Mosley (Little, Brown, $16.99). 60,000 first printing.
May 10
Rough Weather Ahead for Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, illus. by Audrey Coleman (Dutton, $15.99). 125,000 first printing.
May 10
Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald (Candlewick, $15.99). 100,000 first printing.
Nurse Nancy (Random/Golden, $2.99). 100,000 first printing.
May 13
The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic by Avi (Hyperion, $15.99). 50,000 first printing.
May 24
Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers by Louise Rennison (HarperTempest, $15.99). 200,000 first printing.
Bears by Ruth Krauss, illus. by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins/diCapua, $14.95). 350,000 first printing.
May 25
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! and The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! by Mo Willems (Hyperion, $6.99 each). 100,000 first printing each.
June 1
The Spiderwick Chronicles: Notebook for Fantastical Observations by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (S&S, $9.95). 100,000 first printing.
Freddy and the French Fries... Fries Alive! by David Baldacci (Little, Brown, $12.99). 75,000 first printing.
June 2
Best Foot Forward by Joan Bauer (Putnam, $16.99). 75,000 first printing.
June 7
Lotsa De Casha by Madonna, illus. by Rui Pael (Callaway/Penguin, $19.95). 100,000 first printing.
June 16
The Ranger's Apprentice Book 1 by John Flanagan (Philomel, $15.99). 100,000 first printing.
June 28
The 2000 Year Old Man Goes to School by Mel Brooks (HarperCollins, $17.99). 150,000 first printing.
The Berenstain Bears Go Back to School by Stan and Jan Berenstain (HarperCollins, $9.99). 100,000 first printing.
June 30
Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illus. by Barbara Lavallee (June, $15.95). 75,000 first printing.
July 1
Lunch Money by Andrew Clements (S&S, $15.95). 100,000 first printing.
July 5
Rotten School #1: The Big Blueberry Barf-Off and Rotten School #2: The Great Smelling Bee by R.L. Stine (HarperCollins, $8.99 each). 100,000 first printing each.
July 6
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman, illus. by Michael Emberley (Little, Brown/Tingley, $16.99). 100,000 first printing.
July 12
Encyclopedia Prehistorica:Dinosaurs by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (Candlewick, $26.99). 250,000 first printing.
The Edge Chronicles #5: The Last of the Sky Pirates by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (Random/Fickling, $12.95). 100,000 first printing.
July 16
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic/Levine, $29.99). First printing not yet announced.
July 26
Magic Tree House #34: Season of the Sandstorms by Mary Pope Osborne, illus. by Sal Murdocca (Random, $11.95). 300,000 first printing.
